Faith to Follow your Heart

PART 7

The following morning, Ellie was up bright and early, eager to start her day.  The sun had emerged from the grey clouds, indicating a hot day to follow the rain.  As she headed down for breakfast though, she knew she’d have to make peace with her parents.  Stepping into the kitchen, Ellie was slightly grateful her father was nowhere to be seen though.  Normally Max was always around for breakfast, feeling it important to eat with his children, but not this morning.

“Where’s dad?”  Ellie enquired, sitting down and helping herself to a glass of orange juice.

“He’s had to go in early for a meeting.”  Liz replied, placing some hot toast on the table and watching it eagerly snapped up by her growing children.

“Oh right.”  Ellie started.  “I’m sorry I was a bit late in last night mum, I ….. erm …. Jake and I just got caught up studying.”  Ellie told her, knowing her curfew was 10.00pm on school nights.

“It’s ok sweetie, your father was fast asleep when you came in, so I won’t tell if you won’t!”  Liz replied, smiling at her eldest child.

“Thanks.”  Ellie replied, snatching the strawberry jam before Christian got to it.

Once at school, Ellie headed to her locker to get her books for her first few classes, and hopefully bump into Andi.

“Hey Ellie.”  Andi’s familiar voice rang through the corridor.

“Hi.”  Ellie replied, beaming a smile across her face.

“You ok?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“You seem very happy today.  Anything happen last night?”  Andi enquired, just as a shadow walked up behind Ellie.

“Erm, hi.”  Jake said tentatively, watching Ellie swing round.

“Oh hi.”  She replied shyly.

“Just wanted to check you didn’t get into trouble for getting in late last night.” 

“Erm, no, my mum was really reasonable actually.”  She replied.

“Good, I ….. erm have to get to class, but how about meeting up at lunch time?”  He suggested.
”Sure, I’d like that.”  She replied, flashing a smile his way.

“Ok girlfriend, I think you have some major explaining.  You got home late from studying at Jakes house, what really happened?”  Andi probed, as the two girls linked arms and headed to their first class.

Having lunch with Jake was strange for Ellie.  She’d never been part of the ‘popular’ group, and it had never bothered her, but it felt strange to have lunch with Jake and his friends.  She’d dragged Andi along for moral support, and noted that her wacky friend seemed to fit in better with the group than she did. 

Jake had noticed his friend’s quietness, and every so often glanced at her while his friend, Tom bantered on about the game he’d missed on TV the night before.  Normally he’d of been completely engrossed in finding out all about the baseball game, but somehow at that moment it really didn’t matter.

“You ok?”  He asked softly, watching Ellie pick at her lunch.

“What?  Oh yeah, I’m fine.”  She replied, smiling shyly at him.

“Are you up to anything tonight, I though maybe we could do some more work on that project.”  He suggested.

“I can’t tonight, work awaits to Andi and me.”  She replied, feeling slightly sad.  She liked the thought of seeing Jake outside of school once more.

“Jake!”  A voice squealed behind them.

“Hi Alisha.”  He replied politely.

“There you are, we’ve been looking all over for you.”  She said.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh I just wanted to hang out with you over lunch.” She replied, squeezing into the small space between Jake and Ellie, so as to split them up.  “So Ellie, this is rather out of your league isn’t it.”  Alisha added.
”What do you mean?”  Ellie questioned.
”Oh you know, lunch with the basketball captain, don’t you normally spend it in the library?”

“Alisha!”  Jake defended Ellie.

“It’s ok Jake.  We were just discussing our project for Personal Development.”  Ellie lied.

“Oh well, you can scoot now then.”  Alisha informed her.

“I don’t think so Alisha.  I asked Ellie to have lunch with me, so if you don’t like it you can find somewhere else to eat.”  Jake said firmly.

“Ok, stay then Ellie, I don’t care.”  Alisha said, refusing to relinquish her space next to Jake.

Sitting there for a few moments, Ellie couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.  She really didn’t fit in, she wasn’t like them, and she had to get away.  Grabbing her bag, Ellie jumped to her feet.
”Sorry Jake …….. I erm, have to go and do an errand.”  She lied.

“Are you sure, we’ve still got twenty minutes left.”  He replied, feeling slightly hurt that she wanted to leave.

“Yeah, sorry.”  She replied anxious to get away.

For the rest of the day at school, Ellie avoided Jake.  She didn’t want to have to explain her swift exit from lunch.  She was sure he wouldn’t understand the fact she didn’t fit in with his group, they were just so different.

“Ellie, can I come in honey?”  Liz asked, putting her head around the door.  Ellie was busy finishing off the last of her homework before starting her shift at the Crashdown.
”Sure mum.”  Ellie replied, putting down her pen.

“How’s your project going?”  Liz enquired, sitting down on her daughter’s bed.

“Erm …… it’s great.” 

“And how’s working with that lad, Jake isn’t it?”

“Yeah it’s Jake, and it’s fine I guess.”  Ellie replied, getting the feeling her mother hadn’t come in to talk about schoolwork.  “Was there something else you wanted to ask me?”  She added.

“Ok, yes here is something.”
”Right?”

“I saw you last night Ellie ……… with Jake.”  Liz admitted, waiting for her daughter’s reaction.

“Oh!”  Ellie exclaimed, thinking quickly.  It has only been a kiss, but Ellie wasn’t sure how her mother would react.  Liz seemed calm as she sat on her daughter’s bed, but Ellie wasn’t sue.  Ellie knew her mother was very good at hiding her feeling, and Max was the only one who could read her easily.

“It’s not what you think …………. “  Ellie added, trying to cover up her actions of the previous night.

“Relax Ellie, it’s ok.  You’re sixteen years old and you kissed a lad; it’s no big crime.  I’m not here to judge or yell at you, I just want to make sure you’re ok sweetie.  I was sixteen not that long ago, and I know how confusing it can be.”  Liz said, motioning for her daughter to sit down on the bed with her.

“I’m ok mum.”  Ellie replied, joining her mother.

Pausing for a moment, Ellie wondered whether she should continue or end the conversation there and then.  But inside something continued to gnaw away inside her.  The way she bolted from Jake’s house, that didn’t seem normal.  She had to know if her actions the previous night were normal, or if it had something to do with her alien heritage. 

“Well, you can always come to me if you have a problem ……. or want advise or something.”  Liz offered.

“Ok ……….. actually there is something I need to ask you.”  Ellie said tentatively.

“Sure, what is it?”
”I …… when I was as Jake’s last night, things kinda happened and …….. and he tried to kiss me.”  Ellie paused, feeling slightly embarrassed talking about it to her mother.  “But …… but I got scared and ……. I ran out.  All these things were flying around my head, I just freaked out even though I liked him.  I guess ……. I guess what I need to know is, was my reaction normal ….. or something else?”  She added.

“You mean alien?”  Liz clarified.

“Yeah.”

“Hummmm ……..”  Liz thought for a moment, trying to decide on the best course of action.  “Well, those feelings are very strong and pretty amazing when you like someone ……. I think running is a natural reaction.”  Liz said honestly.”
”So you think it was just a human response?”  Ellie queried.

“Yes ……. And no.”  Liz replied, watching the confused look spread over her daughter’s face.  At that moment, Liz knew it was time to tell Ellie a little about what had happened when she and Max had first started dating, and how confusing that had been.  Up until then, Max and Liz had steered clear of involving their children in their past lives, filled with running scared, FBI and such.  Nothing had happened in a very long time, and in some ways the parents just wanted to put it all behind them.

“Have I ever told you about your father and I , when we were your age and first started dating?”  Liz asked.

“No.”
”Ok, well I think now would be a good time.  We were about your age when we started dating.  Things had been pretty hectic, but it was a natural progression, we were such good friends and very close.  Our first date was at Senior Chows, we had such a great time, Max was really relaxed, the food was great, it was perfect.  The moment was spoilt though, when Maria burst in to tell us Michael was sick.  It was pretty complicated but basically we had to race against time to heal him, using the healing stones.”  Liz paused, watching her words slowly sink in before continuing.  “We did heal him, but your father blamed himself.  He thought that he’d got too wrapped up in me to think of the others.  He came to me that night to ask for a break, he said he needed to take a step back ……… to regain his balance.” 

“Dad wanted a break from you?”  Ellie queried, seeing the pain it still caused her mother.  Ellie found it hard to believe her father would ever want to pull away from her mother.  To Ellie, it had always been her mother doing the pulling away.

“Yes honey, he needed a break.  You see he was scared, of the feelings he felt, of the way he could think of only me when I was around, of the way he couldn’t control his emotions.”

“Wow, I can’t imagine dad ever feeling scared, he’s like the strongest person I know.”

“Even the strongest of people get scared sometimes sweetie.  The real strength though is to know when to keep going forward instead of hiding away.  Things will get scary, it’s part of growing up whether you are human or otherwise, but you have to remember that others get scared too, they’re just that little bit braver than you.”  Liz replied.

“Are you saying Jake was scared yesterday too?”

”I would suspect so Ellie.  He’s probably just as nervous as you are about it.  Just take your time, and don’t rush anything.  You’re only young and you’ve plenty of time to experience all of life.  Just enjoy what you have right now.”  Liz said, taking a breath.  For what she was going to say next she had to prepare it right.  It was the main reason for coming to see Ellie, a job that only her mother could really do.

“And ……… and if you and Jake do go further than kissing, just promise me you’ll be careful Ellie.”  She added tentatively.  It was a subject Liz hadn’t properly bridged with her daughter, but knew she had to say something, and it was the perfect opportunity.

“Mum, we’re not even going out properly.”  Ellie protested.

“I know, but there are some things a mother just has to tell her daughter.  I learnt the hard way; I was only seventeen when I had you.  It wasn’t easy, I put a lot of dreams on hold, and I battled against a lot of people to earn the right to live my life my way.  I don’t want you to go through that Ellie, you have so much more to live for in life.”  Liz said, hoping her daughter would learn from her mistakes.

“Why did ……. you have me then?”  Ellie queried hesitantly.  It was something her mother rarely talked about, going back to when times were hard for Liz.  Having being given the opening, Ellie wanted to pull out as much information as she could.

“Why?  Because from the moment I found out I was pregnant I loved you.  No matter how young I was, I couldn’t have not had you, honey.  You were made out of love, and there is no way I could have even considered not having your father’s child.”  Liz replied honestly.

“Weren’t grandma and grandpa angry?”  Ellie asked, deciding to find out as much information as she could.  Never before had her mother talked about events surrounding her birth, she wanted to press for more.

“Yes, they were very angry with me.  I had all the lectures about how irresponsible and stupid I’d been and about how careful I should have been, but in the end it didn’t matter.  All I cared about from the moment I found out was having you.” 

“Why didn’t you let dad come back?”

“It’s complicated Ellie, I heard some information about your father’s destiny and felt I couldn’t stand in the way.  I loved Max too much to stop him fulfilling what he was destined to do …….. and who he was destined to be with.”  She replied, saying the last part quietly.

”You mean Tess?”
”Yes, Tess.”  Liz said, surprised at how the name could still cut to the core of her heart.  “But in the end love will conquer all, no matter what the obstacle.  Always remember that, and my grandmother gave me some wise words before I embarked on a relationship with your father.  She told me to follow my heart, wherever it takes me.  Do that and you’ll always be happy.”  Liz added, hoping her words in someway would help her daughter through the demons she was fighting.

Standing up, Liz quietly left the room, leaving Ellie to mull over the words her mother had said, and the information she’d shared about her parents past life.

At that moment, Ellie realised she was normal; her fears were human, and perhaps just a little alien. 

PART 8

“Ok …….. so that’s a Will Smith Burger, a side of Saturn Rings and an orange soda.  I’ll be right back with your order.”  Ellie reeled off to the customer in front of her.

As she turned, the bell above the door rang, signalling more customers for the already busy Crashdown.  Instinctively, she turned to see who it was, partially exasperated at the thought of yet more tables to wait on since the place was practically bursting at the seams.

Stepping inside, he could see her busy at work.  Watching her turn around, Jake saw her mass of long silky brown hair fly round with her body, giving the effect of his dream girl dancing.  He was mesmerised for a moment, content on watching her for all of eternity and longer.  In his eyes, she was more perfect that the purest angel, more stunning than the most beautiful butterfly.  It was a moment like this that made him forget all about her hasty exit at lunchtime, the errand that he suspected hadn’t even existed. 

Locking eyes, the two stood routed to the spot for a few moments, both concentrating solely at the other.  All people around them paled into insignificance, as the two young friends concentrated purely on the other.  Shy smiles crept over their faces, but nothing detracted from the smouldering eye contact they held to intently. 

From her vantage point behind the counter, Andi watched the picture in front of her unfold.  Even to the untrained eye you could tell instantly that there was a certain spark between the two youngsters.  Ellie had already filled in Andi about the kiss, and all that surrounded it, but even Andi was blown away by the obvious enormity of feelings that ran through her two friends. 

Knowing that someone had to break up the staring contest before they both spontaneously combusted through the heat of the looks, Andi headed over to her best friend. 

“Hi Jake.”  She said smiling, before turning to Ellie.

“You’re order’s up.”  She said watching Ellie slowly return back to the land of the living.
“Oh, erm, thanks.”  She stumbled, taking one more glance at Jake before heading over to the kitchen.

After delivering the order, Ellie walked over to Jake’s booth.  She was grateful he’d sat where he did, otherwise Jake would have been in Andi’s section, and Ellie had a feeling this would be one time Andi wouldn’t have swapped no matter how much Ellie begged.

“Hi.”  She said softly, smiling at him.

“Hi.”  He replied, marvelling at the smile lightening up her face.

“What can I get you?”  Ellie asked, pen poised on order pad.

“Oh …….. erm ……… a Cherry coke and ……. a piece of Astro pie please.”  He replied, perusing the menu on the table.

“Astro pie and a cherry coke, no problem I’ll be back in just a sec.”  She replied, writing down the order before heading to the kitchen. 

“Hey girlfriend, you be careful with that look you and Jake keep sharing …. Otherwise this place is gonna go up in smoke.”  Andi joked as they both filled up a cup each with soda.

“Yeah right!”  Ellie bantered back bashfully.
“I’m serious Ellie, that was one hot, smouldering look you two exchanged there, and in full public view!”

“Ok Andi, for your information we’re just friends.  Jake is a free agent ……. and we’re not even going out.”  Ellie defended herself, before heading back towards Jake’s table with his drink.

“Not yet ….. but it’s only a matter of time my dear, native friend.”  Andi called back softly, unable to remove the grin on her face.

No matter how much Ellie denied it, Andi knew the signs, it was clear both Ellie and Jake felt the same way about each other.  Ellie may be naïve enough to ignore what was in front of her, but Andi couldn’t.  It was plainly clear Ellie had blown Jake right off his feet, and he had also swept Ellie from her feet too.  Something told Andi also that when Alisha found out about Ellie and Jake, all hell would break loose at school.  And Andi couldn’t help but hope she was there to see the Princess loose it, fireworks were always fun to watch!

“I don’t suppose you’ve got a break coming up have you?”  Jake queried, before Ellie walked away after depositing his soda.

“Well, not really.”  She replied, glancing around the heaving café.  “But I could probably spare a couple of minutes.”  She added, sliding into the seat opposite him.

“I just wanted to see if you got that errand done ok.”

“Errand?”  She queried slightly confused.

“Yeah, the one you had to do instead of spending lunch with me.”  He reminded her, trying not to let the hurt show in his voice.

“Oh erm, that errand.  Yeah it’s all done now.”  She replied, remembering the small white lie she’d told him so as to escape the clutches of Alisha.  Taking a deep breath, Ellie prayed and hoped she’d covered her tracks sufficiently so that Jake didn’t suspect anything.

“Right ……. wanna tell me the real reason to bolted from me once more?”  He asked calmly, taking a mouthful of the ice-cold soda.

“I told you, the errand.”  Ellie repeated.

“Yeah Ellie, and I’m telling you I don’t believe you.”  Jake stated firmly.  “You know a guy could get a complex the way you keep running away from me all the time.  Did I do something wrong?”  He added more light-heartedly.

“No!  No Jake, it …… it wasn’t you.”  She replied sharply.
“Oh and don’t tell me ……….. it was you?”  He asked somewhat sarcastically.

For a moment, sitting opposite him, Ellie had a terrible feeling that he was slipping away.  She had all these amazing feelings for Jake, feelings she’d never experienced before.  In her heart, she was afraid if she let him go she may never feel good about herself again.  But telling Jake she didn’t like his friends would definitely be a test for their friendship.  Then again, Ellie thought to herself as she quickly weighed up her options, judging by Jake’s tone, she would loose him if she didn’t tell him the truth.

“Yeah Jake, it is me.  I ……. I don’t fit in with you Jake.  I’m just too different, all your friends, Alisha, I’m not like them at all.  I’m not popular or funny or anything.  I’m just me and that’s nothing special.”  She finally replied honestly.

“Oh Ellie, don’t you understand, that’s exactly why I like you.  I don’t want someone who thinks I’m wonderful just because I’m good at sports or likes me because I’m popular.  I want someone to like me for me.  Don’t ever think you’re not special either.  You’re one of the most amazing people I know.”  He said softly, finally understanding.  Reaching out his hand, Jake gently cupped his fingers around her soft cheek, and instantly felt her melt into his touch.

“But Alisha ……..”   She started to protest knowing her arch rival was a huge threat.
“No!  I don’t care about Alisha.  She’s just a groupie who won’t leave me alone.  But it’s you I like Ellie ……. it’s you I want to go out with.”  He replied, saying the last part of the sentence softly.  “Will you go out with me Ellie?”  He added once again in case she hadn’t got the drift of his words.

“It’s …….. it’s gonna get complicated Jake, there’s a lot about me you don’t know.”  She told him, wanting to be truthful, but knowing she couldn’t tell him her deepest, darkest secret.

“Then it’ll be fun to find it all out.  I’m not an open book either Ellie, I have secrets too.”  He replied, placing his hand gently over Ellie’s.  “Just give it a go …….. who knows where it may lead to.”

The shy smile that lit up her face so brilliantly was enough for Jake, he knew she had accepted is request to date him, no words were necessary.

Their moment of happiness was short-lived somewhat though, as the demanding customers of the Crashdown required attention.

Jake stayed till nearly closing, content to just watch his new girlfriend work.  He loved the way she smiled at new customers, and chewed the end of her pen as she waited for them to decided on what to eat.  He felt guilty also, that she was rushing about while he just sat and watched, but Ellie refused to let him help out.  She and Andi had it under control, although she was upset she couldn’t spend more time with Jake.  Even though she barely got a moment to talk to him since he’d asked her out, she was still full to the brim with happiness. 

As Ellie eventually found her bed that night, the joyful emotions still swum around inside her.  A niggling thought that he might find about her ‘alien’ side was pushed to the back of her mind as she fell asleep.  This was a time for her to enjoy and revel in being Jake Sander’s new girlfriend.

The following morning, more than a few eyebrows were raised in the Evans’ household when Jake turned up to collect Ellie.  The embarrassed young girl quickly ushered her new boyfriend from the house before her bewildered father could pounce on Jake and interrogate him.

“Ok Liz, wanna tell me what just happened there?”  Max queried, after his whirlwind of a daughter had flown out of the house before he’d had a chance to blink.

“That Max, is what I would call love.”  Liz replied calmly, placing freshly made toast on the table for her other two hungry children. 

“Love?  Liz she’s sixteen for goodness sake, how can you say it’s love?  Infatuation or a crush yes, but love is a very strong word.”  Max queried.

“I can say it because I know Max, just trust me.  Jake is something special.”  Liz replied simply, watching Christian and Abbie demolish the hot toast as if their lives depended on it.

Heading towards the lounge room window, Max folded his arms across his chest.

“Well I’m not sure about that heap he calls a jeep.  Look there’s no real doors, or roof; I only hope to god it has seatbelts.  I’m not sure I’m happy with Ellie driving to school with him, I don’t think she’s safe.”  Max informed, as if he could lay down the law with simple words.

“Oh Max, that jeep is exactly the same as the death-trap you used to drive around in and I suffered no ill effects.  I’m certain Ellie will be perfectly safe.  Now, stop worrying and start eating or you’ll be late for work.”  Liz replied, smiling gently at her husband as she touched his arm.

“Work?  How can I think about work when Ellie is off gallivanting with some hormonal filled sixteen year old lad?”  Max cried.

“Well in case you’ve forgotten, Ellie too is sixteen and filled with hormones …. But they’re good kids Max, they’re sensible and we’ve just got to give them some breathing space.”  Liz replied, reaching up and wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck.

Staring down into her chocolate brown eyes, he couldn’t help but relax his reservations about Ellie and Jake.  It was something that Liz always had over him, a spellbinding power to make everything ok just through a simple look.  It was something he was mightily grateful for at that moment too, since reassurance was just what he was after.

Allowing thoughts of his daughter to filter to the back of his mind, he concentrated on the beauty directly in front of him.  Slipping his hands to her waist, he dipped his head and eagerly captured her lips in a passionate embrace.

By the time they broke free, Liz had managed to get Max to forget about Ellie at least for a little while, enough to get him to work safely.

Watching him from the front door as she waved him away, it was clear to Liz that her husband was struggling with the fact his eldest daughter now had another guy in her life.  For so long Max had been the only idol in Ellie’s eyes, but maybe now he would have a rival.  The thought of giving up his ‘little’ girl a tough one for the normally strong Max Evans to cope with.

No matter what Max said about Ellie being too young to know love, Liz was certain Jake would be around to stay.  It was a mother’s intuition, a feeling, something Liz could see without it being in black and white in front of her.  Her daughter was going through the same shy coyness Liz herself had shown to her own mother when talking about Max. 

And despite Max’s reservations, Liz was certain she had brought her daughter up to be sensible, not only with her feelings but also the secret she’d carried around with her from the moment Ellie had been born.

PART 9

The next month passed fairly uneventfully.  Each time she thought back to it though, Ellie couldn’t help but smile at the first day she’d walked into school on Jake Sander’s arm.  Alisha’s face was picture, and Andi didn’t stop laughing all day.  Alisha’s nose had been put completely out of shape by Jake’s blatant rebuff and news had quickly spread around the whole school.  The Basketball Captain and the Head Cheerleader were meant to be a couple, nearly always becoming the prom king and queen, but in choosing Ellie, Jake had blown that tradition out the window completely.

It had taken a while for her to cope with the newfound exposure, but with the help of Andi and most of all Jake, Ellie managed to last until the initial hype had died down.  Yet even a month later, it still amazed Ellie that people actually cared about who she was dating or indeed who she actually was.  Being invisible had previously been her metaphorical middle name, but dating Jake had definitely put that ghost to rest also.

Jake was now a near permanent fixture at the Evans house and the Crashdown.  To Max, everywhere his daughter went her new boyfriend definitely followed.  During moments of reminiscing, it reminded him of how he was around Liz.  A perfect day to him would certainly be following his beautiful wife around.  Oh and making frequent stops in the bedroom alone, but those thoughts were often pushed away when thinking of his daughter also. 

It was the one thing Max worried about still.  He’d accepted Ellie was more independent now, but having a boyfriend brought along more worries for him.  She was sixteen, going on seventeen in not too many months, and with that meant she was growing up.  He’d already walked in on way too many kissing sessions, and in his heart he was sure it wouldn’t be too long before his daughter became a woman.  The mere thought of Jake ‘pawing’ his baby always sent shivers down Max’s spine, nobody was good enough for Ellie. 

Liz had tried her best to alleviate Max’s fears.  Their daughter was sensible, always used her head, she’d be ok.  But Max couldn’t help remembering he had been that ‘sensible’ teenage boy who’d got Liz pregnant in the first place.  All it really did though was give Max one more thing to add to his list growing of worries.  And it didn’t concern Liz too much; she knew her handsome intergalactic King wasn’t happy unless he had something to worry about.

It was Friday afternoon and he couldn’t wait to get home.  Getting away from work early hadn’t been easy, but Max had been determined to do it.  He’d got the evening all planned out, a romantic meal candles and all, a mushy video and then romancing his wife.  He was determined to worry about nothing that night, except Liz.

Climbing out of his Land Rover, he was somewhat surprised to see his doorstep occupied by Ellie’s boyfriend.  Normally they were inseparable, but his daughter was nowhere in sight.  Shrugging off the uneasy feeling in his stomach, Max walked up the grave path towards the young lad.

“Hello Jake, what are you doing sitting on the doorstep?”  Max enquired, switching his briefcase to the other hand.

“Well, I was supposed to be meeting Ellie, but she doesn’t seem to be in sir.”  He replied, jumping to his feet.
“That’s strange, there’s normally somebody in at this time.”  Max said, glancing at his watch and noticing it was a little after 4.00pm. 

Foraging in his pocket, Max retrieved his door keys and opened the door.

“Liz?”  He called out, but got no response from the seemingly empty house.  Stepping inside, Max headed towards the kitchen, and soon realised all was not well at all.

Shattered glass and broken pottery scattered the normally pristine slate kitchen floor.  The back door was ajar and it was obvious it had been forced open, the wood ripped apart.  Turning off a still running cold tap, Max called out once again.

“There’s no one upstairs.”  Jake said, before seeing the mess.  “Wow!”  He added.

“Yeah.”  Max replied distractedly, wishing Jake wasn’t around at that moment. 

He knew somehow that something had happened to his wife and daughter, and just the mere thought send a shiver down his spine.  He didn’t know why, it was just a feeling, perhaps because of the mess or perhaps because he couldn’t sense Liz which was something he hadn’t experienced in a very long time.  He couldn’t let anything happen to them, they were too precious, they had to be safe.  Closing his eyes for a moment, he concentrated, trying hard to connect with Liz, so that he’d know where she was and that she was safe.  But it was to no avail, no matter how hard he concentrated he couldn’t get through to Liz. 

The shrill ringing of the telephone brought Max back down to earth and back to reality.  Crunching glass with his feet as he walked, Max headed into the hall.

“Hello?” 

“Is that Max Evans?”  The strange voice asked.

“Who is this?”  Max queried firmly.

“Just answer the question!”

“Yes this is Max Evans, now what do you want?”
“I think you’d ought to be very nice to me, since I am holding two very precious ladies in your life.”  He said, leaning the phone over.

“Max?”  A shaken voice called.

“Liz!  Oh god are you ok?  Where are you?”  He said starting to panic.

“We’re ok Max, I don’t know where we are.”  She said, sounding distressed.

“That’s enough!  Now you will do as I say or I will make sure harm comes to them.”  He insisted.  “Listen carefully, I will say this only once.  Drive out towards your pod chamber, and head to the second set of large rocks, someone will be there to greet you.”

“What do you want with me and my family?”  Max asked angrily.

“You’ll see.”  He replied before severing the connection.

“What happened?”  Jake queried, seeing all the colour rapidly drain from Max’s face.

“Someone’s holding them.”  Max replied, not thinking clearly or realising what he was saying to the young lad.  Picking up the phone once more, he quickly dialled Michael’s telephone number.  If he was going to find his wife and daughter then reinforcements were clearly needed.

Inside ten minutes the gang were gathered at Max’s house.  Holding Abbie tightly in his arms, Max tried to regain some strength for the battle that lied ahead of them.  It had been so long since anything alien had happened, no trouble or worries, so why now?  The only thing Max was sure of was it was related to his heritage.  The voice had talked about the pod chamber, only another alien would know about that.

“I don’t know who he is Michael, only that he knows who we are.”
“How can you be so sure?”

“I just know ok.  I can’t explain it, just a feeling, he knows too much.” 

“Regardless on what he knows, we have to get Liz and Ellie safe.”  Isabelle interjected.

“I know.  I have to go to the pod chamber, they’re being held nearby.”
“Then we’ll come too.  We can take a couple of cars, that way we’re not all together, Isabelle and I can go round the back, and you to the front.”  Michael said, starting to form a plan.

“Ok, Maria, Alex, you two stay here with the children, and Jake.”  Max told them, trying to soothe his youngest daughter’s tears.

“No way, I’m coming with you!”  Jake protested.

“Not a chance kid, this doesn’t concern you.”  Michael interjected, pointing a finger at Jake. 

“Of course it concerns me!  Ellie is being held there too, and I want to help.”

“You’ll help us more by just staying put.”  Michael added firmly.

“I’m coming whether it’s with you or following you, you can’t stop me.”  Jake said stubbornly, his eyes blazing with the need to help.

“Please Jake, I can’t ensure your safety unless you stay here in this house.  I don’t know what we’re going be up against and I can’t be worrying about you also, I have enough to worry about with Liz and Ellie.  I’ll bring Ellie back, I promise.”  Max pleaded with the young lad. 

Watching him, Max could tell his passionate words were doing little affect with Jake.  His daughter’s boyfriend clearly felt strongly for Ellie, and something told Max Jake wasn’t going to let this one go. 

“Then you’re gonna need all the help you can get.  Please Mr Evans, I love Ellie so much, I need to do something to help her.”

“Ok fine Jake, but you must promise to do what I say.”  Max insisted, knowing it was a loosing battle to keep him at home.  In the end, it was better he was with them than running around alone.  Who knows what he would get into if he was left to find Ellie without Max.

“I promise.”  Jake replied dutifully.

“I don’t think this is a good idea bringing him along, he’s bound to see things he shouldn’t Max.”  Michael cautioned his friend out of earshot of Jake.

“I know Michael, but Jake’s right, I can’t stop him from following us, that’s his choice.  And, I’ve seen the way he is around Ellie, they’re just like Liz and I were at their age.  I can understand how he feels about needing to help out.”
“But what about him finding out our secret?”

“I understand your fears Michael, but right now my only concern is getting my wife and child back.”  Max insisted.

Once a plan was formed, they all jumped into the waiting cars.  Max and Michael in his car, with Isabelle and Jake in the other.  The plan was for Max and Michael to arrive at the front, and Isabelle and Jake to arrive from the back, thus creating a possible diversion if necessary.  None of them knew what they were heading into though, so plans were open to change.

As they drove up towards the large rock formation, Max and Michael both felt apprehensive.  They’d been in tough situations before, but that had been a long time ago.  Both had the feeling they were walking straight into a trap, but what else could they do?  Liz and Ellie’s lives depended on them doing as they were told.

As soon as they drew up to the second rock formation, two guards appeared from nowhere.  Ordering Max and Michael out of the car, they lead them inside.  It was only a short walk, but Max tried to take in his surroundings, trying to form a logical backup plan if needed.

“Ahhh the King of Antar finally arrives.”  Kivar said wickedly.

“You?”  Max spat out, clearly surprised to see his old archenemy.  It had been a very long time since their last sparing, hell Max had been killed back then, or at least who he had been back on Antar.

 “I trust you didn’t come alone?”  He added, brushing away Max’s anger and watching the guards bring in Michael behind Max.  A few moments later, Isabelle joined the group, fighting against the guard holding her arms tightly. 

“I see you brought the others, how thoughtful of you.”

“If you hurt them ……..”  Max started, seeing Liz and Ellie tied to chairs.

“You’ll what?  From where I’m standing Max Evans, I hold all the aces, so now it’s time for you to give in to me.”  He said sharply. 

“What do you want?”  Max asked, his eyes narrowing.
“Oh it’s quite simple really …….. I want your planet.”

“He’ll never give it to you!”  Ellie spat out.

“Oh no?  You’re not so wise little girl!”  He replied, slapping Ellie around the face.  As her head snapped back into place, tears of pain stung her eyes and a red mark quickly appeared across her cheek. 

Anger rose in Max’s body, laying a finger on his daughter was not the best way to install calm in him.  Pulling hard, he tried to shake off the guard holding his arms behind him, intent on lunging at the animal holding his wife and daughter.

“Now, now Max, I think you should stay calm.”  Kivar insisted.

“Why do you want my planet?”  Max asked, still straining against the guard.

“Well you see, I have my own planet, Treidor, where I am king now, but I guess I’m just greedy.  I want more you see, and your planet is perfect for my people to live on.  I would just invade it and conquer it for my own, but the peace treaty you signed ten years ago forbids me to do that.  Therefore, my only other option is to get you to sign the planet over to me, and then it will all be legitimate.”

“This isn’t legitimate, it’s blackmail.”  Max spat out venomously. 
“Call it what you will Max, all I need is your signature, the rest is just mere details.” 

“And if I don’t sign?”  Max countered, needing to see how far Kivar would go.

“I have ways in which to make you sign.”

“My husband will never sign over his planet to an animal like you.”  Liz insisted calmly, staring at Kivar with steely eyes.

“Oh no?  But what if your life depended on it?”  He leered, putting his mouth to Liz’s ear.

“My husband will never sign.”  Liz reiterated.

“Shall we put that theory to the test then?”  He asked, raising the gun in his hand and clicking it behind Liz’s head.

“No!”  Max yelled, straining once more against the guard behind him.

The clicking sound of the gun reverberated around the hollow cavern.  Closing her eyes, Liz took in a sharp breath and prayed.  Her heart was pounding but she had to stay strong.  Her little girl was sitting right beside her, scared to the very depths of her soul, Liz had to stay in control for Ellie’s sake more than her own.

“How about we play a little game Max, it’s called ‘you choose’.  It’s very simple Max, all you do is have to decided who dies, your beautiful wife, or your innocent daughter.”  He said calmly, alternating the gun against Liz’s and Ellie’s head.

“No!  Leave them, they have nothing to do with this!”  Max insisted, fear starting to creep in to his voice..

“Oh but they do Max, they’re the only thing you love enough to sign over your plant you see.  So it’s simply your choice.”  Kivar said evilly.

His heart was pounding as he quickly thought through the consequences of his next actions.  He couldn’t give up Antar, millions of lives depended on him ruling the planet, handing it over to Kivar would be like committing mass murder.  Kivar was known to be a ruthless dictator, not caring about people, only about his own lifestyle.  There was no way Max could allow him to take over his planet; he had a duty to protect his people.

But what was the alternative?  He couldn’t let Kivar hurt Liz or Ellie could he?  They were his life, his sole reason to live, but what were his other options?

“Come on now Max.  Let me speed things up a bit here.  I’m going to count to five, and then you’re going to tell me who I can execute.”  Kivar insisted forcefully.  “One ………”  Kivar chanted.

“Dad!”  Ellie cried out, as the barrel of the gun was forced against the back of her head.

The sound of fear in Ellie’s voice cut right to Max’s heart.  She was his little girl, he had to protect her.  She was so young, so innocent she had so much of her life to live, he couldn’t let her die.  Tears welled involuntarily in Max’s eyes; he had no choice he had to make the decision. 

“…………Two ……………”

Locking eyes with his wife, Max could read her thoughts as if she was saying them out loud.  “Protect our baby Max, don’t let him hurt her.  She has her whole life to live, don’t let him kill our little girl.”  She called out firmly into his mind.

“…………Three ……………”

“I love you.”  He mouthed to Liz, knowing what he had to do.

“I love you too.”  She mouthed back, knowing what decision he had made.  It was the only one she could possibly conceive him choosing.  Too many lives were at stake if he signed over the planet to Kivar, and their daughter was too precious to have her life cruelly wasted. 

For a fleeting moment Liz thought back to Romeo and Juliet, their tragic life.  But she and Max had experienced life, they had three beautiful children, she’d experienced so much in her life.  No matter what happened from that moment on, she’d loved him with her whole heart, and her children would be safe with him, Max put his own life on the line for their safety.  They were resilient; they’d get through life ok without her. 

“Please don’t to this.”  Max pleaded, tears starting to stream down his face.  He loved Liz with all his heart, he couldn’t choose to let her die, he just couldn’t.  In his heart he knew if Liz died there and then, so would he, his heart would stop beating the second hers did.  On their own they were just a half, but together they made a perfect whole, how could he go on in life without his soulmate?  She meant the world to him; he wouldn’t be able to find reason to go on living without his beautiful wife.

“…………four ……………”  Kivar said loudly.

TBC .......................?

A new part will be posted very soon!

Author:            Kazza – 9th December 2001

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